[Enobarbus.] If you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wran gle in, when you have nothing else to do. [Antony.] Enobarbus, Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. [Octavius.] Nay, I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be [Agrippa.] Give me leave, Cæsar? [Octavius.] Speak, Agrippa. [Agrippa.] Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, [Octavius.] Say not so, Agrippa: If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof [Antony.] I am not married, Cæsar: So let me hear Agrippa further speak. [Agrippa.] To hold you in perpetu'al amity— And all great fears, which now import their dangers, From all good hearts. Pray, pardon what I speak; By duty ruminated. At the conclusion of this speech, there is a momentary silence at length Antony says: [Antony.] Will Cæsar speak? [Octavius.] Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoken already. [Antony.] What power is in Agrippa, If I should say, "Agrippa, be it so," [Octavius.] The power of Cæsar, and [Antony.] May I never To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, [Octavius.] There is my hand. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother To join our kingdoms and our hearts, and never Mecenas and Enobarbus remain. [Mecanas.] Welcome from Egypt, sir. [Enobarbus.] Worthy Mecenas, You who are half the heart of Cæsar,-thanks! [Mecenas.] Cause have we to be glad, that all these matters Are thus so well digested: but, for Egypt, You stay'd it well, sir, there. [Enobarbus.] Ay, ay, good sir: We slept day out of countenance, and made [Mecanas.] Cleopatra, If report square with truth, is a triumphant [Enobarbus. She purs'd the heart of Antony, When she first met him on the river Cydnus. [Mecanas.] There she appear'd indeed or my reporter Devis'd with skill poetical. [Enobarbus.] I will tell you. The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, [silver, As amo'rous of their strokes. For her own person, Bending before her gracefully, adorn'd Swells with the touches of the flower-soft hands, O'er all the' adjacent shores. Thither the city Upon her landing, Antony sent friends It would be better he became her guest ; Which she entreated; and our courteous Antony, And for his entertainment pays his heart. [Enobarbus.] I've seen her Hop forty paces in the public street, And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, [Mecenas.] But now Your Antony must leave her. [Enobarbus.] Never will he: Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale By light behaviour cloy; but she makes hungry [Mecanas.] Let me say, sir, If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can fix To be a blessing to him: there we 'll pause. Sir, I entreat that, while you do abide here, THE CHARACTERS OF CLEOPATRA AND OCTAVIA CONTRASTED, IN SCENES SUPPOSED TO OCCUR IN CESAR'S HOUSE AT ROME; AT THE PALACE IN EGYPT; ON THE ITALIAN SHORE NEAR MISENUM; AGAIN IN ROME; AND AGAIN IN EGYPT. HISTORICAL MEMORANDA. An On Antony's marriage with Octavia, which took place about three years after the victories at Philippi, a new partition was made of the empire, the western part, from the ocean to the British Channel, being assigned to Octavius, and the eastern to Antony, except that Lepidus was suffered to retain his province in Africa; and that Italy was still left open to the two great triumvirs in common. tony, on this occasion, returned to Rome, where he abode with his wife for the greater part of two years, restrained by her discretion, and her other amiable qualities, from the excesses to which he was naturally prone. It was during this time that the triumvirs held a conference with Sextus Pompey in the bay of Naples, and concluding a peace (it lasted but for a short time), were entertained by him, and gave entertainments in return. Antony's longer abode in Rome was prevented by the necessity of his presence in the East; and that he might be nearer to Syria, where his lieutenants were contending with the invading Parthians, he removed with Octavia to Athens, Ventidius was successful in the war before Antony reached the army; and Antony therefore continued his abode at Athens during the winter; resigning himself to domestic pleasures, or the conversation of the learned. The war with Sextus Pompey afterwards broke out anew; and Octavius requiring the assistance of Antony, the latter, though he disliked the war, came to him with a large fleet; Octavia interposing her influence to keep the two triumvirs still on good terms. On Antony's necessary return to the East, in order to repress the Parthians who were again overrunning his provinces, Octavia, whose condition did not permit the fatigues of travelling, returned to Rome. Octavius continued to press the war against Pompey, and finally with complete success; Pompey, after seeing his fleet destroyed, being obliged to fly into the East, where he was taken, and soon after killed. Another event which took place during these transactions, was the dispossessing of Lepidus of all share in the empire; by which act, and other stretches of power, Octavius increased the jealousy of Antony. Octavia, meanwhile learning that her husband, in the intervals of his wars, had renewed his connection with Cleopatra, and hearing that he was to leave Alexandria on a new Parthian expedition, determined to place herself in his way as he passed through Syria; and to enhance the pleasure of their meeting, provided herself with a variety of presents. Arriving in Greece in furtherance of this project, her intention became known in Egypt; and Cleopatra had the address to retain Antony at Alexandria, and prevailed on him to send Octavia a peremptory order not to advance in her intended |